At 151 acres and over a mile and a half long, Narrow Pond would be considered a lake by most. Even with this area, the deepest water is just nine feet, typical of northern Maine's small glacial lakes that are over 10,000 years old.

If not for a myriad of springs feeding the rich waters, few if any brook trout would survive the warm days of summer. But they have survived for eons and well enough so that Narrow Pond remains one of only 216 Maine lakes that has never been stocked.

Like most things in nature, the ecosystem of the “pond” is complex. Although brook trout are the most common fish here, others, though not often seen, include white suckers, red bellied and black nosed dace, cusk or burbot. While cusk generally live in deep lakes, their presence here has just recently been documented. According to data collected for the last twenty two years, Narrow Pond Squaretails feed on leeches, shrimp, Scud, Dace and all phases of insects including May, Caddis, Damsel, Dragon, and Blackflies. An interesting feeding frenzy sometimes occurs during the spring, when salamanders make an exodus to the pond waters to lay their eggs.

Spring inlets and seeps are essential for these trout to survive, when the pond temperature reaches over 70°F during late June, July and early August. During these warm weeks several hundred Brookies may congregate near any one cold water influence, making for outstanding fly fishing. Predation in any ecosystem is normal and healthy and Narrow Pond is no exception. Otters, mink, eagles, osprey, loons, mergansers, Great Blue Heron, cormorants, and larger trout all prey on trout here.

The Maine Inland Fisheries and Game have been responsible for the management of this fishery for decades and have responded well to suggestions made by the public. Prior to regulation changes implemented in the last fifteen years, trout numbers suffered from a liberal bag limit and too general angling methods. Current regulations specify artificial lures (flies included) a limit of two fish (at least 12 inches long) but only one may be over 14 inches. This slot length is designed to limit the taking of mature fish therefore preserving the gene pool of fish that are capable of reaching a large size.

Google Map location of Narrow Pond in northern Maine.